Leaf Orchid Care:
Leaves Tell Us About Orchid Health
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Over the past 20 years the orchid supply has become almost limitless. Learning about leaf orchid care is becoming more important to all the orchid lovers. Leaves can help you to diagnose what is wrong with your plant. I imagine this as one of the best ways to see the early signs of potentially fatal diseases. Leaves can be yellow, blackened or brown or they may become shriveled. Let's learn more about leaf orchid care and what to do. Blackened leaves show their effects on the body or the tip of the leaf. If it is on the body of the plant it is usually due to the hot sun causing a leave to burn. Leaf orchid care would tell us that if this may to the case put the plant away from direct sunlight.
If sun burn is not the cause and the size of the spots
 continue to grow then
it may be a bacterial or fungal disease. If so cut off the affected part of the
leave and treat it will a fungicide like natriphene
It also could be caused by excessive fertilizing, especially cymbidiums or once again a fungal infection. If it seems to become larger you need to cut off the affected and treat the plant with a fungicide.  Leaves
may also be
mottled or streaked black or brown. They are telling us
that this could be from a viral infection. Caring for orchids tells us to
determine this special tests are needed and can be provided b your local
agriculture experiment station. You will need to send in a leave. As in humans,
there is really not much for treating this right now.
Yellow leaves are probably the most common ailment we see. Good leaf orchid care would tell us that it just could be a natural phenomenon called old age. If it seems to e happening to the oldest leaves don't worry. On the other hand it could be from, too much light (most common), not enough nitrogen in the fertilizer or if the medium is primarily bark. Other causes include being subjected to low temps or loss of roots. Caring for orchids would suggest to first change the lighting and potential for low temps. Keep in mind that in the North being on a window sill during winter can be a cold spot. Another condition that you could see in orchids are small spots that turn from reddish brown to black. These are most likely caused by fungal infection. As orchid growers we need to remember that humidity is needed for proper orchid growth and the orchid supply. Too much humidity favors the growth of fungus. The last orchid care tip I want to mention is the shriveling of the pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs are very efficient water storage areas of the plants. If there is not enough water given to the plants or the humidity is too low the leaves will shrivel. Also, if the root system is dying you can get shriveled pseudobulbs. Leaves tell us a great deal and the leaf orchid care helps to prevent the early diseases from becoming fatal to the plant. Our free monthly newsletter - Orchidaceae - brings valuable orchid growing tips and pictures.
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